NCDS: Lamont Smith, Asst. Coach - Arizona State

Here at Arizona State, the 2010-2011 season was an up and down year.  We gave ourselves a chance to win most nights, but things don't always go the way you want them to.  We lost six games this season that were one possession games with two minutes or less.  That means we only fell a couple of possessions short of greatly improving our record.  But as hard as it can be to lose a couple of games in a row, it was a good learning moment for all of us.  Out team, regardless of how many close games we lost, continued to battle day in and day out, and I just want to take a moment to acknowledge the effort our guys gave during the season.  They did a great job of sticking together when things got tough, and because of their unrelenting effort and endurance, we we're able to win 3 of our last 4 home games. Also, that endurance that they showed will pay huge dividends for them in future seasons, as well as in life in general.


Heading into the Pac-10 Tournament, Trent Lockett received 2nd Team All-Conference honors, Rik Kuksiks earned the Pac-10 Men's Basketball Scholar-Athlete of the Year award, and Jordan Bachynski was named to the NCAA'S Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.  We're very proud of them!


Although our season is over now, and we are officially in the 'off-season', we're staying really busy.  Just recently, we began putting our players through group workouts and already Trent Lockett has stepped up as a leader for this upcoming season, but our seniors from last year will certainly be missed.  Ty Abbott, Rik Kuksiks, and Jamelle McMillian certainly left their mark at Arizona State.  Both Ty Abbott and Rik Kuksiks ended their career with over 1000 points, and as a group, they earned more victories over their four years at ASU than any other group of seniors in school history. Thanks seniors!


Although the Championship Game hasn't even happened yet, all of us ASU are already excited about next season.  Our players are already busting their butts to get better, and the future for Sun Devil Basketball looks exciting!  I would like to send a special thanks to the all the Sun Devil fans for supporting us this year and College Chalktalk for allowing us this great venue to communicate with all the loyal supporters of collegiate basketball!


Thanks!!

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